Newmarket coaches cry foul over job dismissals

Claim stances on school proposal cost them their positions

NEWMARKET — Two former junior high baseball coaches believe they were relieved of their duties because of their stances on social media in opposition to the proposal for a new junior/senior high school in town.

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By Aaron Sanborn

seacoastonline.com

By Aaron Sanborn

Posted Apr. 15, 2014 at 2:00 AM

By Aaron Sanborn
Posted Apr. 15, 2014 at 2:00 AM

» Social News

NEWMARKET — Two former junior high baseball coaches believe they were relieved of their duties because of their stances on social media in opposition to the proposal for a new junior/senior high school in town.

Chad Pomeroy, a former assistant coach on junior high baseball team, said he was let go from his duties two weeks ago after Principal Christopher Andriski met with the team's head coach. Another coach at the school, who Pomeroy declined to name, then broke the news to Pomeroy.

"He said the principal and superintendent decided because of my postings on Facebook, I wouldn't be allowed to coach again this year," Pomeroy said. "I was upset. I was pretty excited about coaching the kids this year."

Superintendent Jim Hayes and Andriski have yet to respond to multiple requests for comment dating to Friday.

Pomeroy, 29, said he made comments against the new junior/senior high school proposal on the Facebook page "Finding Solutions for Newmarket Schools" in February.

"There was a post on the page, I made a comment on it and after that things got carried away. ... I felt people were being rude to me and I started to be rude," Pomeroy said. "I didn't swear or (verbally) attack anyone. I got into bickering and arguments with other adults."

While the posting from early February show some verbal exchanges between Pomeroy and others over the issues, there was no profanity or personal attacks.

Hayes is also a member of the "Finding Solutions for Newmarket Schools" Facebook page and commented on one of Pomeroy's previous posts about the group's Facebook page being biased toward building a new school.

"I was disheartened when I read Chad's post, He sees us only pursuing a new school, yet this is only the end result of an exhausted process," Hayes posted on the group's Facebook page on Feb. 26.

A few months prior to the date when Pomeroy said he was dismissed, the district decided not to renew the contract of the junior high baseball team's head coach, Jason LaBranche, who is also Pomeroy's cousin.

"They posted the job without me knowing," LaBranche said.

When LaBranche inquired about why he wasn't being brought back he was told the school "found a more suitable person that worked at the school" to fill the position, according to LaBranche.

LaBranche, 36, said he was also told he failed to fill out an "intent to return" form, but when he asked another coach about the form, that coach didn't know such a form existed.

"I was told by a reliable source that my situation was that the administration wanted me out because of my opinions about the new school," LaBranche said.

LaBranche said he raised concern about the proposal on multiple Facebook pages. He said the posts were never inappropriate. "I asked a lot of questions, I asked the questions that no one wanted to ask," he said. "There were heated discussions and differing opinions from the beginning."

Pomeroy said he has reached out to both Hayes and Andriski seeking reason for his dismissal. He said Hayes told him he would have to meet with Andriski. Pomeroy said he's not willing to meet with anyone until he gets a reason.

"I want an explanation before hand," he said.

Both Pomeroy and LaBranche are Newmarket Junior/Senior High School graduates and have coached baseball at various levels in town for several years.

Pomeroy said he would like an explanation on why he was let go, so he can move on and explore other coaching opportunities.

"My reputation is on the line," he said. "I'm not happy about this, I would like to get some answers."

LaBranche would also like some answers. "I've volunteered my whole life to baseball," he said. "Our character has been attacked and it's kind of a crappy situation."

The $45.1 million plan to build a new junior/senior high school failed to gain the support of voters in March, the third time a new school plan was rejected by the town's voters. The issue was contentious and divided the community, as reflected in a vote that was roughly 50 percent for and against a new school. The warrant for the new school needed 60 percent voter approval to pass.